Cryptome DVDs are offered by
Cryptome. Donate $25 for two DVDs of the
Cryptome 12-years collection of 46,000 files from June 1996 to June 2008
(~6.7 GB). Click Paypal or mail check/MO made out to John Young, 251 West
89th Street, New York, NY 10024. The collection includes all files of
cryptome.org, jya.com, cartome.org, eyeball-series.org and iraq-kill-maim.org,
and 23,000 (updated)
pages of counter-intelligence dossiers declassified by the US Army Information
and Security Command, dating from 1945 to 1985.The DVDs will be sent anywhere
worldwide without extra cost.

Web

cryptome.org

cryptome.info

jya.com

eyeball-series.org

cryptome.cn

7 January 2009

[Federal Register: January 7, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 4)]

[Notices]
[Page 760-761]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07ja09-76]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[Docket No. FHWA-2008-0189]
Emergency Temporary Closure of I-395 & I-695 Southeast and
Southwest Highway in the District of Columbia
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Announcement for the District of Columbia to temporarily close
the SE/SW Highway (I-395 & I-695), on January 20, 2009, for safety and
security purposes for the Inauguration of the President of the United
States.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 658.11(e) of title 23, Code of Federal
Regulations, the Washington, DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) has
requested approval of a plan to temporarily close segments of the
Interstate to all traffic except motor coaches and buses--I-395 (from
the 14th Street Bridge to New York Avenue), I-695 (from the 3rd Street
Tunnel to the 11th Street Bridges), and I-295 (from I-695 to DC-295)--
on January 20, 2009, beginning at 12 a.m., for one consecutive 24-hour
period, because of the Presidential Inauguration. I-395 would be closed
to general purpose traffic at New York Avenue up to the 14th Street
Bridge. I-695 would be closed to general purpose traffic at the 11th
Street Bridges. I-295 would be closed to general purpose traffic at
Pennsylvania Avenue. The request has been made for the purposes of
safety and security in and around the Capitol Building as well as for
the critically needed space to park a portion of the expected 10,000
buses bringing people into the Washington area on January 20th. The
Interstate routes included in the request are part of the National
Network of highways that can safely and efficiently accommodate the
large vehicles authorized by provisions of the Surface Transportation
Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA), as amended, designated in accordance
with 23 CFR Part 658 and listed in Appendix A. This regulation limits
the authority of the States to restrict the access of these commercial
motor vehicles to the designated National Routes, and requires the
approval of the FHWA for additions, deletions, exceptions and
restrictions in accordance with 23 CFR 658.11. The FHWA has decided to
approve the request by the DDOT as an emergency deletion in accordance
with section 658.11(e) due to the safety considerations discussed in
this notice. The FHWA is requesting comments from the general public on
this determination. Under title 23 of the Code of Federal Regulations,
section 658.11 (Additions, deletions, exceptions, and restrictions),
the FHWA can grant the closing of the Interstate system or other
National Network route based upon specified justification criteria in
section 658.11(d)(2). The FHWA is also authorized to delete any route
from the National Network on an emergency basis based on safety
considerations pursuant to section 658.11(e). These emergency deletions
are published in the Federal Register for notice and comment.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 16, 2009.
ADDRESSES: The letter of request along with justifications can be
viewed electronically at the docket established for this rulemaking at
http://www.regulations.gov. Hard copies of the documents will also be
available for viewing at the DOT address listed below.
Mail or hand deliver comments to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or submit comments
electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, or fax comments
[[Page 761]]
to (202) 493-2251. Alternatively, comments may be submitted via the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov (follow the
on-line instructions for submitting comments). All comments should
include the docket number that appears in the heading of this document.
All comments received will be available for examination and copying at
the above address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of
comments must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard or you may
print the acknowledgment page that appears after submitting comments
electronically. All comments received into any docket may be searched
in electronic format by the name of the individual submitting the
comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an
association, business, labor union, etc.). Persons making comments may
review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70, Pages 19477-78), or
you may view the statement at http://dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael P. Onder, Team Leader
Truck Size and Weight and Freight Operations and Technology Team, (202)
366-2639, Raymond W. Cuprill, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-
0791, Federal Highway Administration; 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590, and Mr. Mark Kehrli, FHWA Division
Administrator--Washington, DC, (202) 219-3536. Office hours for the
FHWA are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access and Filing
You may submit or retrieve comments online through the Federal
eRulemaking portal at: http://www.regulations.gov. The Web site is
available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. Electronic submission
and retrieval help and guidelines are available under the help section
of the Web site.
An electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded from the
Office of the Federal Register's home page at: http://www.archives.gov/
federal_register and the Government Printing Office's Web page at:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov.
Background
On January 20, 2009, as a result of the inauguration activities,
the number of participants and spectators is expected to reach 2-4
million, overwhelming both the roadway and transit networks in the
District of Columbia and will create a safety hazard for commercial
traffic to traverse these routes during that time. This is one of the
principal reasons for the closure of these routes to commercial
traffic. Additionally, preliminary data indicates that approximately
10,000 or more motor coaches within a 1,000-mile radius of the District
of Columbia are expected to travel to the District. As such, safety in
normal transport and in the event of emergency evacuation requires
creating transportation redundancy. That redundancy can best be created
by allowing arrivals by motor coach to proceed directly (without
transfer to transit or another vehicle) to the inaugural checkpoint
areas and then by allowing the motor coaches to park within walking
distance of the drop-off location. The identified segments of I-395/I-
295/I-695, if temporarily restricted to prohibit general purpose
traffic, provides the best and only feasible location for allowing
large numbers of motor coaches to approach the departure from the
inauguration and the subsequent parade while providing the possibility
of expedited departures in the event of an emergency.
Temporary closure of these segments of the Interstate to general
purpose traffic means that the motor coaches can be moved in and out
with maximum safety while providing the possibility of expedited
departures in the event of an emergency. Temporary closure of these
segments of Interstate to general purpose traffic also facilitates the
movement of emergency vehicles into and out of the area, thereby
enhancing safety. To further enhance safety, the motor coaches will be
parked in the roadway approach spans, beyond the bridge limits. This
will minimize bridge overloading and ensure routes for pedestrian
traffic and emergency vehicles.
The temporary closure should have no impact on Interstate commerce.
I-95, which is the main north-south Interstate route in the region, is
signed around the Washington Beltway (I-495) so that Interstate traffic
need not enter the District at all. Likewise, Interstate traffic
seeking to go west via I-66 or I-270 can access either I-66 or I-270
via I-495 without ever entering the District. Likewise, traffic seeking
to go east via U.S. Route 50 can access U.S. Route 50 via I-495 without
ever entering the District.
Commercial motor vehicles, of the dimensions and configurations
described in 23 CFR 658.13 and 658.15, serving the area can utilize the
routes listed above in response to 23 CFR 658.11(d)(2)(ii). Vehicles
serving the immediate area north of the temporarily restricted I-395/I-
295/I-695 segments of the Interstate will be unable to do so because
the local and National Highway System (NHS) street network will also be
closed during the inauguration. Therefore, the closure of the I-395/I-
295/I-695 segments of the Interstate will have no material effect on
such traffic. Entities requiring deliveries within and adjacent to the
area of closed local and NHS streets will be encouraged to receive
deliveries before or after January 20th. To assist in facilitating
Interstate commerce, the DDOT and other District government agencies
will coordinate with local governments and adjacent jurisdictions
(i.e., VA and MD) to minimize traffic disruptions. Requests will be
made for adjacent jurisdictions to cooperate in routing traffic around
the closure and warn Interstate traffic of the closure by signs, and
other means to get the message out to the trucking industry and the
rest of the traveling public.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 127, 315 and 49 U.S.C. 31111, 31112, and
31114; 23 CFR Part 658.
Issued on: December 31, 2008.
Thomas J. Madison, Jr.,
Federal Highway Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8-31472 Filed 1-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P